Ritual of Physical Refraction

Thaumaturgy, Level 4 Ritual

REQUIREMENTS		Four points in any path of Thaumaturgy
		Thaumaturgic Path: Movement of the Mind, Level 2
		Stamina: 2

COMPONENTS		2 - Rubber balls, racquetball sized.
		1 - Bowl, capable of containing three pints.
		1 - Writing parchment, white or off-white (or Paper), approximately 4" by 4".
		1 - Metal plate (any type), approximately 5" by 5" and at least 1/16" thick.
		2 - Pints of the castor's vitae.

CASTING TIME

2 hours

RITUAL

The Ritual of Physical Refraction is a defensive ritual, one that is geared towards the Magus who has not the ability to absorb or deal out large amounts of damage, and is faced with an opponent who does. By transforming his body into a refracting device for damage, instead of an absorbing one, the castor can protect himself from damage, and, at the same time, deal that damage right back to its original dealer, all without even moving. Naturally, he would have to brace for impact, as it were, but that is a given.

After gathering his components, the castor adds two pints of his vitae into the mixing bowl, and, while doing so, speaks the following words of preparation:

(Latin) "From the vitae, I am given life."

The castor then places the two rubber balls, one at a time, into the vitae, and speaks the following words of preparation:

(Latin) "My vitae is a reflection of my life, and a refraction of my death."

Then, in red ink (or vitae, or blood, if the castor prefers), the castor pens a word or phrase upon the parchment; this is the "release" word. Placing the parchment, roughly centered, upon the metal place, the castor then places both roughly 2" to 4" to the left of the bowl, and speaks the following words of preparation:

(Latin) "By the defense of my vitae, my life is defended."

Once this is done, the castor concentrates on the power on his vitae, and speaks the following incantation:

(Latin) "From the vitae, I am given life. My vitae is a reflection of my life, and a refraction of my death. By the defense of my vitae, my life is defended. By the refraction of harm, I am defended."

This is incanted three times in a row, continuously. The rubber balls will begin to absorb the vitae, and the parchment will turn to ash, showing a successful casting of the ritual.

In order for the castor to become protected by the ritual, he must have the rubber balls on his person, and speak the release word but one time. When the spell has concluded, the rubber balls will turn to ash.

MECHANICS

During the initial part of the Ritual, the Player roll Willpower, Difficulty 7, the number of successes equaling the maximum number of health levels of damage that can be refracted in one hit. All damage over this number must be soaked as per normal. Failure indicates a failed ritual, and a botch can be... explosive. During the release part of the ritual, the player rolls Willpower, the number of successes equaling the number of rounds the protection lasts. Failure equals one round, as the ritual was already successful, and a botch means zero, with the rubber balls immediately turning to ask. The ritual cannot protect against Aggravated damage, or ranged attacks, only hand-to-hand attacks, or against hand-held weapons (and yes, normal claw attacks that do not do aggravated damage count as hand-held weapons in this case).